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If all three London clubs get to a final I wonder if the authorities will relax the night time restrictions at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted? Obviously the flights have got to be operated from the London area and next year it could be even worse with the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 being played at Wembley in June!
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Thameslink Saturday service from May 19th has finally gone back to matching its franchise agreement with 4 semi fast services to London taking 32 minutes to St Pancras.
Sundays sees 6 trains per hour with 2 slow trains plus 1 non stop East Midland train that will eventually become 2 non stop trains an hour. |
Construction update
Columns can now be seen rising from the foundations of Luton Airport Parkway Dart Station. This will support the first floor that will contain the DART platforms. In the distance can be seen the route of the DART. The plans shows construction in 2 phases, maybe due to public access issues to this side of the railway station. This is phase 1, phase 2 shows the station further towards the camera but it looks like phase 1 will be completed first. A new pedestrian railway crossing will be installed but could be part of phase 2 as that crossing point is also further back along the platforms.
https://i.imgur.com/cu6WIAn.jpg At the other end of the line the foundations of the walkway to the original multi story have been exposed as the DART will cross this point underground to enter Luton Airport Central Station. https://i.imgur.com/V6b57HC.jpg Meanwhile the digging out of the line can be seen inside the CTA https://i.imgur.com/EnHZQ8A.jpg Once the roof has been installed over the tunnel the road will be diverted to allow work to start on the missing section. https://i.imgur.com/JPZks2o.jpg This is looking like the exit to the drop off area as a ground floor column has been replaced by extra steelwork above it. In the foreground what looks like another pair of lifts are being installed. The question is does traffic pass to the left or to the right? https://i.imgur.com/FyUK0RU.jpg Finally the main core containing 3 lifts and stairs is being topped out. The second multi story will eventually reach this point and will be taller than MSCP1 https://i.imgur.com/ZDlzA7D.jpg |
Excellent pictures thanks. one question, will the two multi stories be connected at any point, like where those new lift shafts have been installed? |
They will be at the second floor but access will be apparently restricted. Not sure why they will be joined if passengers cars can't cross the gap.
https://i.imgur.com/USuNd8b.jpg |
I’ve been using LTN quite a bit since the new year and I really quite like what they’ve done with the terminal and security was a breeze surprisingly. But one negative I seem to experience every single time is having to negotiate the wall of Eastern European chain smokers outside the entrance to departures. I mean, isn’t the no smoking sign universal to any language? LLA really need somebody out there to reinforce this as it’s pretty nasty for anybody like me who’s never smoked to have to battle their way through.
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I have mentioned it to staff and passing police but the view is that if they did something about it 2 minutes later the problem has returned. It does appear though that half of Eastern Europeans smoke.
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Southern europeans smoke a lot too..But since it is outside you cant fault them for that. The area is open, so the smoke goes up in the air..Perhaps a solution would be to build dedicated closed off glass areas like in other european airports inside the building
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Is it actually possible to enforce (with a penalty that the courts would not overrule) a no-smoking policy in the area outdoors where all the smokers gather ? It's not an enclosed space - and am wondering how it being private land versus a public transport facility would affect this
I'd guess that with all the smokers likely to be leaving the UK within a few hours, it might be rather difficult to enforce any financial penalty, especially if Brexit really does happen and thus the UK loses its ability to enforce court judgements across the EU |
Originally Posted by mariofly12
(Post 10458420)
The area is open, so the smoke goes up in the air..
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Hi, am meeting a pax next Monday for the first in ages. Is the new multi-story the place for short stay? I have to go into the terminal to greet.
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Yes the multi-story is the short term. £8 minimum or use the long term and catch the free bus. First hour free or £4 for 1-2 hours.
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Great, thanks. I look forward to seeing Bank Holiday traffic inside and out ... :*
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Originally Posted by PAXboy
(Post 10460936)
Great, thanks. I look forward to seeing Bank Holiday traffic inside and out ... :*
The airport has been busy moving the hoardings around where passengers pass from airside to landslide with maybe two thirds of the area now complete and a new section next to M&S now closed. Remember the terminal was claiming to be finished last December! The meet and greeters now get the chance to stare at a new section of pipes, cables, conduit and ducting as once again no ceilings have been put in to save money. |
Alpha re-route
The Alpha detour for DART taking shape now, looks very near to firestation, or just looks like it from multistorey!
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Originally Posted by pabely
(Post 10463725)
The Alpha detour for DART taking shape now, looks very near to firestation, or just looks like it from multistorey!
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Thanks for the tips. The multi-story worked fine and, being a quiet afternoon many spots available. I walked down to Ground as was not sure where the walkway connected? As my visitor was badly delayed in passport control (on account of few humans being on duty, gosh what a surprise!) from landing to exit - with NO checked bag - took an hour.
The interior of the car park, stair wells etc was down to the usual LTN standard of don't pay anything you don't have to. I was in the car park for 1 hour and 16 minutes, so £18 puts them in LHR territory and they are clearly aiming to make their money back very quickly. |
Originally Posted by PAXboy
(Post 10464996)
I was in the car park for 1 hour and 16 minutes, so £18 puts them in LHR territory and they are clearly aiming to make their money back very quickly.
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Originally Posted by PAXboy
(Post 10464996)
I was in the car park for 1 hour and 16 minutes, so £18 puts them in LHR territory and they are clearly aiming to make their money back very quickly.
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Not to worry LTN man. My guest had a five hour flight plus two hours time change and his family were anxious to see him. And I had imagined that, with no luggage, he would be out sooner. Silly me! But all went well.
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Originally Posted by LTNman
(Post 10463825)
Bravo detour actually. The detour will need to cross the path of the Dart that has been dug out but there is no sign of its roof going in yet. |
Great work by the airport this bank holiday weekend...
Flew out to Ohrid, on Saturday and from entering the airport (with just hand luggage) to clearing security and walking through the duty free shop upstairs, in six minutes! This afternoon landed back, and from touchdown to getting on the railway link bus in eighteen minutes, and that included a few minutes wait on the stand before the stairs were attached and doors open at the rear. Departure lounge on Saturday at 5am, was absolutely packed, still not the best of experiences, still lacking enough general seating. Managed to get seating in the Pret area after buying a coffee, but queue was crazy! Flights departed from the remote southerly stands (near the runway), they like to call those flights early, boarding commenced 55 mins before departure, from downstairs on the new pier. |
The airport claim to have added a lot more seating airside. Think the claim was something ridiculous like over 2000 extra seats but the seating is there if you know where to look. Most of it went in the new pier B along corridors and by the gates so there are plenty of empty seats but most of it is in the wrong places to be useful. |
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8d78352b73.jpg
Monday was the first time I saw the new arrivals board. At first glance it looks good but it lacks a clock telling you what Airport Time is, as opposed to what time you think it is, to calculate the elapsed time since landing. Secondly, the information does not give 'Baggage in the Hall' and other updates as you get at other airports. However, I found the advertising screen tended to be so bright that I had to sheild my eyes to read the arrivals! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....23770123e5.jpg |
Originally Posted by PAXboy
(Post 10465862)
Monday was the first time I saw the new arrivals board. At first glance it looks good but it lacks a clock telling you what Airport Time is, as opposed to what time you think it is, to calculate the elapsed time since landing. Secondly, the information does not give 'Baggage in the Hall' and other updates as you get at other
LTNman has already mentioned the missing clocks around the Terminal. I wonder why, perhaps given most people now have mobile phones to check the time it’s not a big problem but one wouldn’t go amiss now and then. |
Can’t say I really looked in the last few weeks but while the complete boards are HD the flight section is being displayed in low definition with fuzzy logos. Also the only area of the ground floor new build with a slatted board ceiling is the tiny section around this display screen which is another reason why the terminal still looks half finished. Back in the check-in area the Easyjet and Blue Air airline desks are still in temporary accommodation while their new homes are boarded off with no work being carried out. Over sized baggage is behind a rough looking hoarding and the signage for a new chapel has been taped over.. Looks like it was meant to go at the far end close to check-in desks 201-210 which were ripped out a few years ago to make way for the temporary out sized baggage area that is now looking permanent. |
How times have changed at LTN
Looking up at the new arrivals board there is not one holiday charter flight airline - Once you would see just all Britannia Monarch Dan Air Court Line, and many more |
The lack of clock is simply convenience. Look down the list and then glance at the clock at the top of the unit. Or not!
Falcon666 Strange that the “Baggage in Hall” doesn’t appear on the board yet it does on the Airport Web site arrivals section. |
Originally Posted by rog747
(Post 10466130)
How times have changed at LTN
Looking up at the new arrivals board there is not one holiday charter flight airline - Once you would see just all Britannia Monarch Dan Air Court Line, and many more |
I have an official Luton Airport year book from I don’t know when which after discarding certain types of flights claimed Luton was the UK’s leading charter airport. Despite Luton carving its place out in the low cost market the airport has been spectacular in not being able to hang on to its IT flights which seems to be now down to a single based aircraft. This traffic has all ended up at Gatwick with a small bit at Stansted. |
Well it`s rather more than a "small bit at Stansted" I would venture.
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In the early 70s, Luton had 8 based Britannia Airways Brits/737s, 4+ based Monarch Brits/720s, 7 based Court Line 1-11s and 2 based Dan-Air 1-11s to say nothing of overseas charter airlines. But the only scheduled service was a weekend BMA Viscount to the Channel Islands.
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Originally Posted by LGS6753
(Post 10466898)
In the early 70s, Luton had 8 based Britannia Airways Brits/737s, 4+ based Monarch Brits/720s, 7 based Court Line 1-11s and 2 based Dan-Air 1-11s to say nothing of overseas charter airlines. But the only scheduled service was a weekend BMA Viscount to the Channel Islands.
DAN AIR had 5 x 1-11's (300/400 series) Monarch had 4 x 720B - the Brits were retiring Court had up to 14 x 1-11 500's - Incl the leases from BMA and Austral, + 2 x 400 seat L1011's Britannia had at least 8 737's out of a fleet then of 14 (the 2 x 707's would leave in 1973) |
Originally Posted by compton3bravo
(Post 10452320)
If all three London clubs get to a final I wonder if the authorities will relax the night time restrictions at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted? Obviously the flights have got to be operated from the London area and next year it could be even worse with the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 being played at Wembley in June!
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Luton would be in breach of planning permission if the summer limit was broken which is why the summer restrictions were brought in, in the first place. Next summer the restrictions might be lifted subject to a planning application going through now. Just heard a biz jet take off at 05:05, same thing happened yesterday at the same time but it was a different aircraft. That won’t be happening next month. |
It is going to be a very interesting week at the end of May with probably the largest uplift of football supporters ever going to Madrid and Baku with no direct scheduled flights to Baku in that week. Will the night restrictions have to be lifted at Luton, Stansted, Gatwick etc to cope? Will Madrid ATC be able to cope, especially with all the corporate aircraft arriving from all parts of Europe. To cap it all, it is half-term week, still rest assured our indomitable transport secretary (failing Greyling) will have had contingency plans in place ready for such eventualities!
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More to the point given shortages and it being half term here will any aircraft actually be available to fly to Baku? It may very well be that scheduled connecting services are the beneficiaries although I’d imagine those too will be constrained |
Quite agree airport planner but I am sure a number of aircraft will be sourced even if from outside Europe. A well known sports travel company have already got two flights booked to Baku - one from Stansted and one from Gatwick. The Gatwick flight has no slot yet and may have to be moved to another airport!
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Baku match falls in May so should be Ok, connections for UK supporters via Doha & Istanbul are possible.
Madrid in June, good luck, Southend should be chocka, everywhere else from the first permitted arrival, if they can get a slot! Must be a few LFC fans based around London who have away match qualification for Tickets so demand for London travel high. |
Construction update
Temporary Taxiway Bravo diversion has had concrete laid either side of the dug out route for the Dart which now needs a roof in this section to complete the taxiway.
https://i.imgur.com/yfCluur.jpg Meanwhile just inside the CTA the full depth of what will be the tunnel can be seen where the rams are. The Dart Tunnel seems it might be a lot deeper than the road tunnel entrance to its right. https://i.imgur.com/G0PN1sG.jpg MSCP2 has now reached the main lift core https://i.imgur.com/HRCq9af.jpg Meanwhile at Luton Airport Parkway the Dart Station is having temporarily trusses installed to take the weight of the floor above which will be installed later. https://i.imgur.com/hyqMXhU.jpg |
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